The debate, entitled “Landowners and wildlife: friends or foes?”, was chaired by CLA president Tim Breitmeyer and debated in front of a live audience at the show.

The panel included former Defra secretary Owen Paterson MP, leading naturalist and former RSPB conservation director Mark Avery, Kent farmer and Elmley National Nature Reserve owner Philip Merricks, and Ian Coghill, chairman of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Mr Paterson, the Conservative MP for North Shropshire, a strong proponent of the badger cull as part of efforts to eradicate TB, argued that the countryside was a place that needed “constant management and intervention”.

He said: “The work of organisations such as the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust demonstrates the importance of managing both our landscapes and wildlife populations.

“Its ‘Fields for the future’ report found that wild pheasants increased four-fold in response to full game management, hare numbers dropped substantially once predator control was withdrawn and songbird numbers doubled in response to game management but showed a gradual decline once feeding and predator control was stopped.”

He added: “I am a practical environmentalist. I find common cause with all those who passionately believe that we have a duty to pass on a better environment than the one we inherited.

“Too many times those that say they are doing their best to protect the environment shy away from the difficult decisions.”

Mr Breitmeyer said: “Protecting and conserving rural landscapes for all who live and work there is a high priority for land managers and farmers, but they often come under fire from various groups who have different priorities.

“Discussion and compromise by all stakeholders to ensure the common goal of a countryside where the natural wildlife thrives alongside a diverse and productive rural economy is one of the greatest challenges we face.”